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Sharpie Squad Guest Blogger: Tali Buchler

Tali Buchler brings something fresh to the Sharpie blog today as she demonstrates her favorite way to uncap directly onto and into the pages of the encyclopedia.

The Sharpie Squad’s own Tali Buchler, creative genius behind Growing Up Creative, adds her own twist to the powerhouse of all publications- the collection of text containing every piece of information one could want/need to know. Clearly though, Tali has found something that the editors have left out and she intends to correct them…

A new reason to open an encyclopedia…

Used objects and discarded items (or what some may call -trash), always spark my imagination. Transforming an object – giving it a new life and purpose is something I like to do. In the past, I have used discarded magazines in designing a temporary space for a fashion show in an installation called – Read.

My new “thing” is collecting encyclopedia books that people have been throwing away. I started folding the books and turning them into sculptural objects. I’m not sure where this will end, still a work in progress…

In my blogs I have started a series of tutorials called “Eco kids craft” where I use design ideas and craft techniques to encourage recycling creativity and creating with “whatever you have”.

Recently, I had my family over (my brother calls it/ us “the tribe”); a total of 8 kids – enough to start a preschool! It was so hot that day, we couldn’t go outside. After a while, I started hearing the “I am bored” song coming from all different directions… Quick thinking made me pull out some of the many encyclopedia books I have been accumulating, one per child, and our big box of Sharpie Markers.

My instructions where very clear: DO AS YOU LIKE!

Before I knew it and without any planning, something magnificent happened: the kids were absorbed, looking through the pages of an encyclopedia, reading and admiring the black and white images.

I gave them the OK to cut and draw as much as they wanted. So they did. And so did I.

We used all kinds of Sharpie Markers! Sometimes we drew together, and sometimes each one on his own. My favorite thing to do was using the Fine Point Sharpie Marker to layer different colors in across hatch pattern. These Sharpie markers were perfect for that because of their translucent yet brilliant quality.

To do this at home, you will need:

An old encyclopedia (you can find it at your parents house or at a second hand store)

Sharpie Markers

Scissors

Glue stick

How to:

Flip through the pages

Find an image you like

Start to color the image

Work in layers, it helps create depth and richness to the drawing (try and think like an impressionist)

Add details to transform the image into something new. Even add notes!